2016 San Diego City Attorney election explained

Election Name:2016 San Diego City Attorney election
Flag Image:Flag of San Diego, California.svg
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2012 San Diego City Attorney election
Previous Year:2012
Next Election:2020 San Diego City Attorney election
Next Year:2020
Nominee1:Mara Elliott
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:267,122
Percentage1:57.3%
Nominee2:Robert Hickey
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:198,735
Percentage2:42.7%
City Attorney
Before Election:Jan Goldsmith
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Mara Elliott
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 2016 San Diego City Attorney election occurred on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. The primary election was held on Tuesday, June 7, 2016.

Municipal elections in California are officially non-partisan, although most members do identify a party preference. A two-round system was used for the election, starting with a primary in June followed by a runoff in November between the top-two candidates.

Campaign

The incumbent City Attorney Jan Goldsmith, was ineligible to run for reelection after eight years in the position due to term limits.[1] Four Democrats and one Republican contested the race.[2]

In the June primary, Republican Robert Hickey and Democrat Mara Elliott received the most votes and advanced to the November runoff election. Elliott's second-place victory in the June primary was considered an upset due to her opponents out raising and out spending her. Unlike her opponents, Elliott did not receive many of the typical endorsements from the various local democratic groups.[3]

In the November runoff, Elliott defeated Hickey by a margin of 57 to 42 and was elected City Attorney.

Notes and References

  1. News: Elliott wins in San Diego city attorney race. Cook. Morgan. sandiegouniontribune.com. 2017-12-24. en-US.
  2. Web site: Board. The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial. Q&A with San Diego city attorney candidates. sandiegouniontribune.com. 16 May 2016 .
  3. Web site: Overlooked by Insiders, Mara Elliott Emerges in City Attorney Race – Voice of San Diego. Voice of San Diego. 8 June 2016.